tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63795913021807164892012-12-18T18:59:11.150-08:00Tattooed Pagan MomKieran Nightstarhttps://plus.google.com/103449388419200522111noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6379591302180716489.post-9432708324656021562012-09-23T07:39:00.000-07:002012-09-23T07:41:34.928-07:002012-09-23T07:41:34.928-07:00Mabon & the Shadow SelfPersephone has&nbsp;descended&nbsp;back to the underworld and Demeter morns for the lose of her daughter. Trees, flowers, grass, begin to die, grains, seeds, and rooted foods are ready for harvest, and the northern hemisphere prepares for a long, cold winter.&nbsp;As we prepare our homes, our yards, our gardens for the death of winter's approach, there is something else that should be prepared, your inner self.<br />
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Many of us are busy in the spring and summer months, being with the kids, vacations, yard work, planting and tending gardens, beaches, BBQs, festivals, and just being active. As fall draws in and winter approaches, we stay inside more, and eventually, stay indoors with the warmth almost daily. This can cause us to begin to look at ourselves, and see who we are, mentally, physically, and spiritually. This time of "darkness" can draw out our shadow selves.&nbsp;</div>
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Our shadow selves are the darker parts of ourselves. Addictions, negative habits,&nbsp;sadness, grudges, anger,&nbsp;hatred, and a myriad of other negative or hindering emotions and being that haunt us, either overwhelmingly&nbsp;or just as a whisper. Working on the shadow self takes time, energy, effort, but, once we have grasped the smallest measure of it's existence we are lifted to a higher plain in our lives.&nbsp;It can be, and sometimes is, a scary journey to look within yourself. When I think of looking within myself, and&nbsp;comforting&nbsp;my shadow self, I&nbsp;often&nbsp;think of The Never Ending Story, when Atreyu comes to the Magic Mirror Gate and sees Bastian on the other side, looking at him. Atreyu came to know himself as a strong warrior but now sees himself as a scared,&nbsp;lonely&nbsp;child he really is. Atreyu had to push past that shocking&nbsp;realization, past that very human emotion, and carry on. What do you see when you stand&nbsp;in front&nbsp;of the magic mirror gate? Do you believe you could be like Atreyu and walk through that gate, knowing what you now know of yourself?</div>
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Mabon, the second harvest, the first day of fall, the beginning of the end is a great time to begin that work on the shadow self. The days grow shorter, nights grow longer, and we are pushed into a world of cold and darkness almost forced to look within ourselves for comfort. What do you see? What do you feel? How deep within yourself are you willing to go? As you&nbsp;winterize&nbsp;your home and garden, begin to see how you can winterize yourself. What cracks, holes, openings need cleaning and&nbsp;insulating within yourself?&nbsp;No, this is not a time to look within and punish yourself for things, nor is it a time to look within, see your shadow self, and try to rid it or&nbsp;suppress&nbsp;it, but, it's a time to see your&nbsp;shadow self&nbsp;and&nbsp;embrace&nbsp;it. Your&nbsp;shadow self&nbsp;is what makes you who you are, and is what gives you strength. If you see you have an addiction that is harming you,&nbsp;recognize&nbsp;it for what it is. Is there a lesson, a reason, an excuse for that addiction? Has it been a comfort in your life? What has it&nbsp;comforted&nbsp;you from? Where do you stand with that addiction now? Is that addiction still needed or is it time to replace that addiction and move on?&nbsp;You may always be an addict, but, coming to&nbsp;understand&nbsp;that particular addiction, you will no longer allow yourself to be harmed by that addiction, but instead, you will become the aid to those still allowing their addictions to harm them.&nbsp;</div>
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Have I lost you? Did you think this would be a step by step on getting rid of your shadow self? DOH! Maybe I should have put up a disclaimer.</div>
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No, you will never banish or rid your shadow self, it will always be there, and you will always, for the rest of your life, find more and more shadow selves. This is part of your life journey, sometimes it's quick and easy, sometimes, one&nbsp;shadow self&nbsp;can take a life time to accept. Everything is a lesson, mistakes, heartbreak, happiness, sadness, lose, and gain, it's a lesson. Sometimes that lesson is for you, sometimes you are the giver of that lesson, but, there is always a lesson. Always.</div>
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So, take time this Mabon to look within yourself, go to your magic mirror gate, see what shadow self pops up. Then, sit with it, talk to it, because it's you. Once you have spoken to your shadow self, and you understand why it's there, you can begin to learn and teach the lessons the shadow self has given you.</div>
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Good luck and many blessings on your journey.</div>
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Your Personal Magic Mirror Gate:</div>
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Materials:</div>
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Bowl </div>
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Cleansed water (adding a pinch of sea salt can clean your tab water)</div>
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Tapered Black candle (not to long)</div>
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Quiet, dark room</div>
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(It is always best to do this working at night, with all is still and sleeping)</div>
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Shadow Journal</div>
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Light the candle, and poor a few drops of wax into the bottom of the bowl.</div>
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Pour the water into the bowl</div>
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Turn off all the light, turn off all the sounds, no cell phones, no radio, complete silence and&nbsp;darkness</div>
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Sit&nbsp;in front&nbsp;of your bowl, arranging it to where you can see a bit of reflection in the water.&nbsp;</div>
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Chant:</div>
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I walk to the gate of my inner self</div>
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Allow my soul to open
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Allow my eyes to see&nbsp;</div>
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Say the chant 3 times, then pause a few minutes to listen to yourself. Repeat as often as needed, and journal what you feel.&nbsp;</div>
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This is your personal magic mirror gate, come to it as often as you need. Use it, let it be yours, and if you need to add more to the working, or less to the working. This is yours.</div>
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<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/tattooedpaganmom/jlsa/~4/rMpzgihxONs" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Kieran Nightstarhttps://plus.google.com/103449388419200522111noreply@blogger.com0http://www.tattooedpaganmom.com/2012/09/mabon-shadow-self.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6379591302180716489.post-41543313117000843582012-08-18T08:52:00.000-07:002012-08-18T08:53:32.638-07:002012-08-18T08:53:32.638-07:00AngerThese past few weeks I've had a battle going on with my anger. It started with frustration and grew from there. I come by having "anger issues" honestly, my father was Irish, my mother was half Scottish half Cherokee, so, we are pretty well versed in the whole anger aspect. So, when I say I was having a battle going on with my anger, you can pretty much believe me, it was a battle.<br />
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Anger is the most interesting of emotions we as humans have. Women, especially in the south, are raised that getting angry is rude. Men are raised to let there anger out through fighting. However, no where in our raising is it told to us that it's normal, and good to be angry. There wasn't really a time in your childhood where when you got angry, your parent said, allow yourself to be angry. Permission to be angry wasn't something readily given. Without the permission, anger usually was stifled, held in, kept on the down low, even felt guilty about. The one apology that I hear a lot that bothers me is, "I'm sorry I got angry" Why be sorry, it's your anger, your emotion, why do you have to be sorry you got angry? "Never apologize for your emotions", that is always my response.<br />
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What is the issue with anger is when people don't give themselves permission to be angry. When that happens, is when all the issues begin. People argue, fight, say things out of anger, hurt others, hurt themselves, all out of an emotion that is completely natural to have, but rarely accepted having. I have let my anger over power me many times in my life, and just this past couple of weeks it has been a struggle to remember, it's ok to be angry, I have every right to be angry, now, how can I use this anger to put my point out there to get what I need in a positive way.<br />
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The moment you take time to accept your anger, is when you can give yourself permission to be angry. Once you have given yourself that permission, your anger has been noticed, and you can finally sit back, and begin to understand the anger. Once you understand your anger, your mind is clear to proceed in fixing or leaving, or what ever you need to do to rectify the situation that mad you angry. All though anger is a normal emotion, anger is a warning that something that has happened to you is not working with you, and it must be corrected or left.<br />
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Remember, people do not wake up each morning thinking, "What can I do to piss so and so off today" Universe doesn't pick you out of a crowd just to make sure you are having a bad day. Anger, and becoming angry is YOUR reaction to the situation, not the situation reacting to you.<br />
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<i>Mantra for understanding and accepting your anger ~ Kieran Nightstar</i></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">(repeat as often as needed, scream it, cry through it, squeeze a stress ball, grit your teeth. As you continue to repeat it, you will begin to become more clear in your anger, and move on from there) </span></h4>
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<i>I am anger</i></div>
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<i>Anger is me</i></div>
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<i>My anger is mine and mine to keep.</i></div>
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<i>Anger is my teacher</i></div>
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<i>The student I am</i></div>
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<i>I open myself to lessons given from Anger's hand</i></div>
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<i>This lesson is mine</i></div>
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<i>A light on my path</i></div>
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<i>What anger has shown me, is now my peaceful bath </i></div>
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/tattooedpaganmom/jlsa/~4/KTLyWKSjSis" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Kieran Nightstarhttps://plus.google.com/103449388419200522111noreply@blogger.com2http://www.tattooedpaganmom.com/2012/08/anger.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6379591302180716489.post-77520426546350467922012-08-04T10:12:00.000-07:002012-08-04T10:12:27.609-07:002012-08-04T10:12:27.609-07:00Ch Ch Ch Ch Changes......"Turn and face the strain..."<br />
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This is the weekend of&nbsp;Lughnasadh, the first of 3 harvest festivals in the Lunar Calendar, and this is a wonderful time for those changes. At the time of Ostara we have planted things that we wish to grow in our spirits:<br />
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Kindness<br />
Love<br />
Money<br />
Peace<br />
Acceptance<br />
Honor<br />
and much much more, well, now is the time to reap what you have sown.<br />
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The question is though, have you made the changes to even be able to reap what you've sown?<br />
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If you continue to try and grow in your spiritual garden the same thing every year and you aren't getting that abundance, you need to look at the soil. Is it weak, does it have the&nbsp;nutrients, fertilizer, compost. Is it filled with rocks, debris, have you&nbsp;neglected&nbsp;your garden and let it get over run with weeds?<br />
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This time a year, I see so many Pagans who have tried and put out there to change something about themselves and bring forth something to replace or fill the change but, they are&nbsp;frustrated&nbsp;it didn't happen. Yes, you do put out there the change or&nbsp;fulfillment&nbsp;you&nbsp;desire, but YOU can not sit back and just let it happen. If you do, I dare say you will be&nbsp;disappointed. If you have planted a seed in your life, you must baby, love, care, and tend that seed everyday. You are the soil, the sun, the rain, and the gardener...you can even be the weeds.<br />
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<a href="http://www.owlsdaughter.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Lammas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.owlsdaughter.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Lammas.jpg" /></a>So, this Lughnasadh weekend, as you begin to pick through your garden, think abut what YOU have done that has allowed that garden to either grow and flourish, or, wither and die.<br />
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<br /><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/tattooedpaganmom/jlsa/~4/H5dqearuZSE" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Kieran Nightstarhttps://plus.google.com/103449388419200522111noreply@blogger.com0http://www.tattooedpaganmom.com/2012/08/ch-ch-ch-ch-changes.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6379591302180716489.post-50554131047029289542012-07-31T08:41:00.000-07:002012-07-31T08:41:01.826-07:002012-07-31T08:41:01.826-07:00A Successfully Failed CommitmentI'm well known for starting something, dedicating to it, then seeing how it works for me, and if it doesn't work, then, with no regrets, leaving the commitment with many lessons learned. This has been known to annoy&nbsp;many&nbsp;people, but, it's not something I feel I need to change in my life. Call it my Irish heritage, my Gemini nature, or me being a bit&nbsp;flaky, but, this is how I am able to learn my lessons in life.<br />
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On that note, I want to talk about my successfully failed commitment to not eating meat, dairy, and living strictly plant based.<br />
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At the beginning of the year, myself with my family supporting me and making the commitment with me decided to go strictly plant based. It has been something that has haunted me to do for many years. It was always a joke between me and my husband, "I want to not eat meat, but, can't choke down cold or raw veges, including salads." They smell wonderful, and make my mouth water, but, I just can't seem to get them down for nothing. So, over the years, I tried, and failed not successfully failed, just flat out fell off the wagon.<br />
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I decided to make the commitment after watching the movie&nbsp;<a href="http://www.forksoverknives.com/" target="_blank">Forks Over Knives</a>, which discusses the effects of meat in the body in great detail. (I highly&nbsp;recommend&nbsp;this movie to everyone to better understand, not just the effects of meat, but, the effects of GMOs and the benefits of living plant based). After that, I got Roger to watch it, the kids watched it, and after much discussion, I made the commitment, as did Roger, and the kids, well, I'm the Tattooed Pagan Mom ;)&nbsp;There were other reasons I made the commitment as well, my mother's death, my weight gain, my health was declining, my body was hurting from carrying the weight, and I was not happy with myself or how I was feeding my family. I needed the change, I wanted the change, and in my true form of my many commitments, go big or go home.<br />
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We took the steps to change, got rid of the meat we had, bought many more herbs and spices, and learned a lot about plant based living through books like&nbsp;<a href="http://www.forksoverknives.com/" target="_blank">Forks Over Knives</a>, <a href="http://engine2diet.com/" target="_blank">Engine2 Diet</a>, and <a href="http://happyherbivore.com/" target="_blank">Happy Herbivore</a>. Yes, my cookbook collection grew by 4 books. Over time, I felt so good, weight was coming off, I was learning so much about different plants, veggies, fruits. I learned about aminos, brewer's yest, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Textured_vegetable_protein" target="_blank">TVP</a>, many different grains, and even learned that Kighla has a glutton allergy. However, I started and so did Kathleen, to feel tired more and more. Kathleen and myself are&nbsp;anemic, and all though we took&nbsp;supplements, it wasn't enough.&nbsp;So, we added organic dairy and eggs back into our diet. That small change really helped myself and Kathleen, along with&nbsp;supplements, to feel much better.<br />
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That, however, was the gateway drug...<br />
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At times of the month, when mine or Kathleen's iron was the lowest, we would get some seafood, and there was one time my iron was WAY low, Roger did buy a steak, small portion, but, he was&nbsp;determined&nbsp;to get that iron and B12 in me, no matter what. We still continued to by organic, plant based, and I was still learning. I discovered seasonal shopping, farmer's markets, and re discovered my love for cooking, making bread, and began to teach myself canning. I continued to learn, to&nbsp;experiment, to feel good about my shopping choices, reading labels, and learned to&nbsp;incorporate&nbsp;veggies we thought we would never touch into our meals. My kids were doing the same thing, eating raw fruits and veggies like they were going out of style, becoming more active, happier, and their skin cleared up, hair&nbsp;shinier, and they became more aware to things. Roger was even showing health improvements as well as myself. I was still, in my mind,&nbsp;determined&nbsp;to be plant based.<br />
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I came back to reality when we went to the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/mariettasquarefarmersmarket" target="_blank">Marietta Square Farmer's Market</a>&nbsp;and saw a farmer selling organic, grain fed meat which he raised himself. My mind began turning from there, (Roger's look of desperate cave man hunger didn't help matters either). I began to look into organic, grain fed meats, we were already buying free range eggs, and sometimes organic milk, and we were tossing that meat in there when the moon fell right on myself and Kathleen, so, I allowed myself to research and then to buy some organic, grain fed, hormone free meats. Talk about the silly shocked faces on my family when they saw that lol.<br />
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So, why is this a successfully failed commitment?<br />
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Well, I discovered in the past 7 months, I'm not a vegan, I'm not a&nbsp;vegetarian, I am an organic, free spirited, plant based, tree hugging healer. It's not that I needed to cut out meat, I needed to change my lifestyle. The guilt I would have eating meat, has been replaced with the knowledge that I not only buy organic and seasonal, but, I support local farmers and small business owners. I have plenty of vegan meals along with meals with small portions of organic, free range meats &amp; dairy. My children and husband are healthy, I am healthy, and we live a healthy (ish...still smoke, so don't go there) lifestyle where food is our medicine and medicine is our food.<br />
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If you need to change your lifestyle, start with your eating habits. Start slow, see how it works for you. I learned SO much in the past 7 months. I don't spend anymore in groceries then I did when we were buying the bad stuff. I still clip coupons, I still make grocery lists, but now, I shop more often, instead of once a week. I cook more, with plenty of help from my cookbooks. I enjoy feeding my family, and watching them grow. I have no guilt this time of falling off the wagon. We don't have meat at every meal, or every other meal. We have meat in small portions, with plenty of veges, and it's all natural, healthy, and I'm proud to be an&nbsp;omnivore&nbsp;again.<br />
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(JUST FYI...we tried free range chicken burgers last night and discovered, we enjoy veggie burgers MUCH MUCH more)<br />
<br /><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/tattooedpaganmom/jlsa/~4/6Ettb0Oe9FE" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Kieran Nightstarhttps://plus.google.com/103449388419200522111noreply@blogger.com1http://www.tattooedpaganmom.com/2012/07/a-successfully-failed-commitment.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6379591302180716489.post-68952974893009833562012-04-29T07:57:00.000-07:002012-04-29T07:57:38.852-07:002012-04-29T07:57:38.852-07:00Another Leader Descends...As I was reading Facebook the other day there was a posting by a Pagan leader who's blog I've followed for a while, however,&nbsp;&nbsp;his latest posting&nbsp;was&nbsp;disheartening. He was announcing he was stepping down from the leadership role, and working to bring back his&nbsp;anonymity. Do to his blog, I will not announce who it is, or give the name of the blog, out of respect of his request.&nbsp;It wasn't a surprise he was stepping down, nor was it a surprise the reasons why, only a&nbsp;sadness&nbsp;that another&nbsp;influential&nbsp;leader has decided to step down, and go back into the shadows of anonymity.<br />
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Currently, I'm working to become a leader in the Pagan community, to become a known healer and teacher in this community and it's what I've wanted since I was 17 and looked into the night sky and heard the Mother's voice give me my first magickal name. As I walk this path of growth, I watch other leaders, I see how they are treated, how hard they work, and how they are not given the credit they deserve. Being a leader, HP/HPs or healer/teacher is a path of service. You willingly give up your time, yourself, to give to others you know or don't know. You sacrifice many things to do this, family, home, jobs, money, comfort, however, the call is so strong you can't resist. They are many reasons why a leader may step down, but, it all comes back to one thing....their fountain ran&nbsp;empty.<br />
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One leader I watch all the time, even more then she knows I believe, is my teacher/HPs. She goes, goes, goes, continually, everyday. She gives, and gives to the community. She teaches giving to the community, and she sacrifices much to give to the community. I've watched her push through personal illness, personal&nbsp;tragedies, and personal&nbsp;exhaustion, and she did all of this with a smile and her soft voice of reasoning and understanding. I truly admire, and worry about her. I admire her dedication, and I worry, will she be the next who's fountain runs dry?<br />
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There are leaders in the community who abuse their power, I won't name names, but, I have been around many on my path. They take from their followers, money, confidence, their own thoughts, and use what they have taken to build themselves up. They reach out to degrade other leaders so that they can remain on top, and they use their&nbsp;authority to push around their followers, and any others they may begin follow them just so they can live a life of ego and selfish endowments.&nbsp;&nbsp;Their fountains rarely run dry, however, sooner or later, the fountains of their followers, do.<br />
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This brings me to the conclusion of the good being taken advantage of, and the bad over powering the good. The typical, "nice guy" syndrome. The good, respectful leaders give, and give, and give to the community. They are called upon, and since the draw to help is so strong, they agree to help or aid, with little or no return. Students come in to their classes, take away the&nbsp;knowledge, without an exchange energy. I've seen teachers teach classes for donations only and they may have a class of 30 students, and the donations they&nbsp;received&nbsp;are only $5. However, the teacher just smiles, and talks about how wonderful and active the class was, and is excited to teach again. There have been leaders put together festivals, asking for volunteers to help and&nbsp;assist in cleaning, setting up, taking down, or any number of small chores, and they receive little or no reply. I, myself, have gone out to parking lots, grabbing people, pulling them in, to help sweep a floor, or put up tables and chairs, even though they see the 1 or 2 people struggling to clean by themselves and offer no help.<br />
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We are draining the fountains of our leaders. We, all of us, are guilty of this. Those that follow the leaders that drain others, don't see what is happening to them because they are given blinders, and being used. Those that don't wear the blinders of a negative leader, want to only do what they want to do, and not be told by anyone otherwise. Many Pagans believe classes, festivals, workshops, and other items should be free, and freely given. There is a difference there, the above is freely given when you have the right leader giving it, however, it is not, and never has been free.<br />
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The next class, workshop, festival, ritual you attend, look around, add up the cost of the site, the materials, the food, the shelter, and figure in the time to put together these things. Look at the ones who put it together, are they sitting around, laughing or talking, or are they running back and forth like a chicken with their heads cut off? Take time to speak to your leaders, ask them what they need. Do they need monetary donations for materials? Do they need volunteers? Do they need someone to just bring some candles, incense, or other small material to donate to the gathering?<br />
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Ask them next time, what do you need to keep your fountain flowing?<br />
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I promise you, they will have an answer.<br />
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<br /><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/tattooedpaganmom/jlsa/~4/3eiJCTGx0Gk" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Kieran Nightstarhttps://plus.google.com/103449388419200522111noreply@blogger.com9http://www.tattooedpaganmom.com/2012/04/another-leader-descends.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6379591302180716489.post-75053644693841978832012-04-25T08:36:00.000-07:002012-04-25T08:36:24.042-07:002012-04-25T08:36:24.042-07:00There is a Balance There, am I Missing It?I've spoken to many friends who not only have a day job, kids, bills, dinner times, bed times, and all that but also have a spiritual practice of some type and they are not finding the needed balance. I, personally go through the exact same thing. In fact, with my day job, it's very&nbsp;difficult&nbsp;to find a way to work that along with promoting my spiritual practices, healing, and working on my personal studies. I was attempting, a couple of weeks ago, to work on promoting my healing practice while also working my day job. I work from home, so I thought, I could do both....yea, I was wrong.<br />
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As I'm working on creating my profile, one of my clients from my day job was IMing me, and well, my day job and healing practice do not&nbsp;coincide&nbsp;so my brain was being pulled in two completely opposite directions. It was not pretty. I finally just logged off my day job, put my computer to sleep, and left my office&nbsp;frustrated that&nbsp;absolutely&nbsp;NOTHING got accomplished.<br />
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Since I do work from home, I have the added&nbsp;challenge, along with others who work from home, of making sure I'm dedicating the right amount of work to each job that I have so that nothing is neglected. I was speaking to a good friend of mine at Beltane Bash this past weekend, and he was making a great point. He is a good father, a good husband, a good business owner, but, with all that he does, something gets&nbsp;neglected&nbsp;every time, and that's not fair.<br />
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It isn't, I agree.<br />
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Finding the balance, especially today, is near&nbsp;impossible. When you're also a spiritual teacher, healer,&nbsp;adviser, or other, it's even more&nbsp;difficult. We, as the above, sacrifice our time and self to give to others, and the job does not pay well, so, we must have day jobs. While we work our day jobs, we are always pulled to do more spiritual work, and it takes us away from putting in 100% to our paying day jobs. Then, we have family, and we must put 100% into our families, however, our hearts are pulled to that spiritual practice that is put on the back burner while we tuck in our loved ones, help with homework, go to the grocery store, or any other mundane action we do with love and willingness for our families. Then, by the time we are able to get to what our hearts are drawn to, our minds are somewhere else. We're thinking, I need to cook dinner, or did I complete that assignment for my boss, did I pay the water bill, and so on. So we are not 100% into what our hearts draw us to.<br />
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It's a very difficult road to travel.<br />
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I do not have a solution to the issue, I wish I did, however, I know I am not alone in this problem, and you should know you aren't alone either. What keeps me going is knowing my healing and teaching, and spiritual advise is needed. My love for my family is needed, and my job needs me to be dependable. I'm needed, as are you. As a healer, teacher, Priest, Priestess, and more, you are a&nbsp;servant&nbsp;to the masses, and you ARE needed. We, in this field, have chosen to give ourselves to the public, and that may mean some of our sanity while we work to balance our jobs and home life. I study at night when I can, I work on weekends to promote my services, My family is 24/7 and my day job is 12/5, (sometimes even weekends) but, with all the stress, over working, and concerns I have working to maintain a hint of balance, I wouldn't trade my life for anything.<br />
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I hope you feel the same.<br />
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Good luck, remember, the healer needs to be healed, the&nbsp;adviser&nbsp;needs advise, and we are all needed in this world. You are important.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/tattooedpaganmom/jlsa/~4/Wh8ffT6L4fo" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Kieran Nightstarhttps://plus.google.com/103449388419200522111noreply@blogger.com1http://www.tattooedpaganmom.com/2012/04/there-is-balance-there-am-i-missing-it.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6379591302180716489.post-85038419315137620822012-04-08T07:46:00.000-07:002012-04-08T07:46:47.187-07:002012-04-08T07:46:47.187-07:00Easter, Ostara, & Passover...Oh My!Oh no... run, hide, and bring your zombie disaster kits, it's another holiday battle going on!!!<br />
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Today is Easter, April 8th, the Christian holiday celebrating the&nbsp;resurrection&nbsp;of Jesus after being&nbsp;crucified for claiming to be the Son of God. This is a day where Christians celebrate with family and go to church welcome spring, have a feast, and just generally enjoy knowing that their God helped&nbsp;deliver&nbsp;them from&nbsp;original&nbsp;sin by sacrificing His Son.&nbsp;(all my sins&nbsp;forgiven&nbsp;by proxy, sounds to me like a reason to party)<br />
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Not to long ago, there was Ostara, March 19th - 20th, the Pagan celebration of the Spring Equinox, a time of fertility, rebirth, and growth. If you made it through the long cold winter months to spring, then, you have a reason to celebrate. Pagans generally get together with family and friends and celebrate through renewal and rebirth rituals, planting gardens, feasting, and celebrating the fact that the Earth is alive again. (Yea, getting through the winter, another reason to party)<br />
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As we speak, Passover is going on, April 6th - 14th, the Jewish celebration of God's&nbsp;deliverance&nbsp;from the&nbsp;Egyptians,&nbsp;through Moses&nbsp;and of slavery &amp; death. This is a time where the Jewish people get together for celebration with family and friends through the removal of chametz, or leavened food, and the Passover feast, or Seder meal. (being rescued from slavery and death, yup, another reason to party)<br />
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With those 3 holiday's going on that are clearly a positive celebration of life why is there so much fighting? <b>(Pagans, I'm talking to you too)</b> Seriously, I go on Facebook and see my Pagan friends and family saying things like, Easter is a Pagan holiday, Thank a Pagan for your Holiday, so many attacks on the Christian belief. However, then I look further, and see my Christian friends and family attacking with things like, Easter is a Christian holiday, and There is only 1 God who was&nbsp;resurrected&nbsp;today, blah blah, and the poor Jews are stuck in the middle. Christian's trying to celebrate Passover &amp; Easter, and the Pagans trying to get the Jews on their side because the Jews don't follow that Jesus was the Son of God.<br />
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It's a friggen mess!!!<br />
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Take a moment and read each holiday again. What do you see in common? If you look hard you will see a lot;<br />
Death &amp; Rebirth<br />
Cleansing &amp; Renewing<br />
Family &amp; Friends<br />
FEASTING<br />
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Easter, Ostara, Passover, they are all basically the same just celebrated differently. This is a time of death and rebirth, a time to clean out the old and make way for the new, a time to celebrate LIFE!! The flowers &amp; plants are blooming and the baby birds and animals are being born. With all the pollen, the trees are even having sex to celebrate life, so why in the hell is every at each other's throats?<br />
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I'll tell you why, pride, evil pride. Fighting about who owns what, who did what first, where what came from, it's enough to turn a person&nbsp;atheist. Pride is an evil within all religions, spiritual beliefs, and even mundane life. Pride can kill a persons eyesight, make them blind to life, and blind to the beauty of diversity. Spirituality is beautiful, a belief, knowing that you are not alone and are able to turn to a higher force, weather that force is in your heart, the heavens, or here on Earth. Don't let pride cloud your judgement and hamper your love to all. Instead, look at the beauty of the&nbsp;diversity&nbsp;on this Earth, in this country. If you are unable to do that, and are&nbsp;determined&nbsp;to claim to be the first and only of that holiday,&nbsp;then head to India, become Hindu, and celebrate <a href="http://festivals.iloveindia.com/baisakhi/" target="_blank">Baiskhi</a>.<br />
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As for me, I think I will celebrate Spring and go plant something today!<br />
Happy Easter!<br />
<br /><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/tattooedpaganmom/jlsa/~4/rFdwxqyrtUw" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Kieran Nightstarhttps://plus.google.com/103449388419200522111noreply@blogger.com0http://www.tattooedpaganmom.com/2012/04/easter-ostara-passoveroh-my.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6379591302180716489.post-83463439919014788092012-03-22T07:28:00.000-07:002012-03-22T07:34:55.649-07:002012-03-22T07:34:55.649-07:00Trayvon Martin, Judge Not....<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In the news you may have been following the case of a young man named Trayvon Martin. He was 17 years old, good student, football player, had a smile that could melt your heart. He was visiting his father and his father's&nbsp;fiancee in an&nbsp;affluent&nbsp;gated community when he decided that evening to go get a snack at the local&nbsp;convince&nbsp;store.&nbsp;</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Needless to say, he didn't return.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The neighborhood hood had a neighborhood watch program, George Zimmerman was doing his duty keeping on eye on the neighborhood when he noticed a black male, wearing a hoodie, with his hands in his pocket walking down the street. So, he decided to do his "duty" grabbed his gun, and&nbsp;preceded&nbsp;to follow the mysterious, hooded black male. He called 911, and admitted he was pursuing the black male on foot. The operator tells him to back down....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Gun shots</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">George&nbsp;Zimmerman&nbsp;shot and killed that mysterious black male in "self defense"&nbsp;</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'm sure you caught on that Trayvon Martin was that mysterious black male George&nbsp;Zimmerman&nbsp;was so&nbsp;avidly&nbsp;protecting his&nbsp;neighborhood&nbsp;from. Zimmerman continued to&nbsp;peruse&nbsp;Martin, even when told to back down, then shot him, right there, on the streets. Martin <u>was</u> armed...with skittles and iced tea.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As I have followed this story it continues to break my heart.&nbsp;Listening&nbsp;to Martin's parents talk about their son, finding out Zimmerman was released from jail because he claimed self defense under&nbsp;Florida's&nbsp;"Stand Your Ground" Law (<a href="http://www.self-defender.net/law2.htm" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: #eff2f5; text-align: -webkit-center;">1998 FLORIDA STATUTES&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: #eff2f5; text-align: -webkit-center;">CHAPTER 776</span><span style="background-color: #eff2f5; text-align: -webkit-center;">JUSTIFIABLE USE OF FORCE</span></a>) If you take time to read the laws you will see how&nbsp;vague&nbsp;they are, so, of course all Zimmerman had to say was he felt&nbsp;threatened&nbsp;and they would let him off. Accordance to FL law, Zimmerman did nothing wrong, he defended himself, against a scared teenage boy armed with skittles and iced tea, wearing a hoodie, walking back from the&nbsp;convince&nbsp;store&nbsp;talking&nbsp;to his girlfriend. He girlfriend, who was on the phone with Martin at the time of the shooting, said that Martin was telling her he was being followed, and he was scared for his safety.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">People tend to&nbsp;judge&nbsp;first and ask questions later. Zimmerman did that, he reacted on 2 things, racial judgement, and fear. Those do not make a safe&nbsp;combination, especially for someone who has a gun. I see everyday how people judge others, and it does sadden my heart. I've even had to tell my children, people judge you by your looks first, your personality,&nbsp;intelligence, and talent second. I do not believe Zimmerman is a bad man, nor does he want to just go out and shoot someone to just shoot them. I believe he made a&nbsp;terrible&nbsp;mistake, but, I believe he should be made accountable for his mistake. When you continually&nbsp;peruse&nbsp;someone that is not self defense, when you are holding the gun, and they are holding candy, that's not self&nbsp;defense. I believe Zimmerman knows that, and I believe he is hiding behind a law that has a loop hole just big enough to fit around him.&nbsp;</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We must not judge, we must not keep this racial profiling, and we must allow our self to go beyond our fears and learn to embrace our brothers and sisters. I'm not saying be&nbsp;gullible&nbsp;and expect everyone to be good and kind all the time, but I am saying everyone has goodness in them. You don't know a person until you allow yourself to get to know them.&nbsp;</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Remember, to all my Christian friends/family - <b>1 Thessalonians 5:2</b> "For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a&nbsp;thief&nbsp;in the night"&nbsp;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Remember to all my Pagan friends/family - <b>Wiccan Rede</b> "Mind the three fold law ye should - three times bad and three times good</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Remember to all my friends/family&nbsp;of other beliefs - <b>The Law of One</b> "We are all one. When one is harmed, all are harmed. When one is helped, all are healed."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.cnn.com/search/?query=Trayvon%20martin&amp;sortBy=date" target="_blank">More on the story of Trayvon Martin;</a></span><br />
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<br /><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/tattooedpaganmom/jlsa/~4/yLeZsgOGWEI" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Kieran Nightstarhttps://plus.google.com/103449388419200522111noreply@blogger.com2http://www.tattooedpaganmom.com/2012/03/trayvon-martin-syndrome.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6379591302180716489.post-85246105096217768422012-03-17T06:59:00.000-07:002012-03-17T09:21:35.804-07:002012-03-17T09:21:35.804-07:00Forks, Paths, and JourneysIt's been a long while since I posted, and I've taken this time as "down" time. Sometimes, taking a little jump into a silent or slightly silent abyss is&nbsp;absolutely&nbsp;necessary&nbsp;for you to regroup and refocus. That's what I've been doing, refocusing.<br />
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There are many times we come to a fork in the road on our paths, sometimes we know it, but, most of the time we are unaware at how a choice can&nbsp;drastically&nbsp;change our direction in life. I had to make that unaware choice many times, but, the past few months, I've been aware of myself standing at that fork. Looking down each path, going through the what if's and trying to remember the&nbsp;vague&nbsp;directions I have been given though out life. I've been standing at the fork for a few months, and I have jumped into a slightly silent abyss while making the choice of which way to go, left....or....right?<br />
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As you all know, I've been a very active woman, working with <a href="http://ngsolitaries.com/" target="_blank">North Georgia Solitaries</a>, <a href="http://paganassistancefund.com/" target="_blank">Pagan Assistance Fund</a>, running my business,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.aspiritualblend.com/" target="_blank">A Spiritual Blend</a>,&nbsp;with my husband, assisting with festival planning, and teaching workshops out of <a href="http://foreverandaday.biz/" target="_blank">Forever and a Day</a>. Not to mention becoming adjusted to homeschooling my children, the lose of my mother, and more recently my father, and all around being a mommy, wife, and having a full time job. So, this fork I've stood at is a very large fork, and each path looks completely different than the other one. Needless to say, I stood there, thinking, and debating, because I know, this choice, is going to be a life changing choice, and I will never come to this fork again.<br />
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Currently, on this path I choose, I've left the unknowing, scared, and slightly confused student behind, and have transformed into a more confident, willing, peaceful, and more stable student, teacher, and healer. As I journey down this new path, stopping every few feet to study with my teachers, Lady Charissa and Lady Hannah-Fey, I look at them with wide wonder. They are 2 beautiful women that I admire and love deeply, and they have selflessly given themselves to me. They offer their knowledge and support, understanding&nbsp;guidance&nbsp;to my blunders, and glowing pride at my accomplishments.<br />
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As I remember the hard, hole filled, root covered path I was on, when I began my spiritual journeys, I realize how strong my legs have become, and how aware my feet are, and my worries are no longer, tripping and falling. My worries are no longer, will I be able to see in the darkness, and they are no longer questioning the broken signs on the side of the road. My worries now have gone from my own journey, to others. I worry for others out there who are new to their path, and worry about them as they trip and fall, as they question the broken signs on the road, and as the squint through the&nbsp;darkness&nbsp;looking for a shimmer of light. I worry for others as a mother worries for her children. I know, in my heart others will make it through that journey, but what makes me feel peace with my worries, is knowing the new Path I'm on, is&nbsp;parallel&nbsp;to those on the hole filled, root covered path. They can hear my comforting voice as I&nbsp;encourage&nbsp;them to stand and brush themselves off. They can hear me as I give warning of the large root ahead of them, so they have a chance to walk around it. Like my teachers I have now, I'm confident to give to other understanding guidance to other's blunders, and glowing pride in other's accomplishments.<br />
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My new journey has put me on a path of empathy, healing, teaching, and loving all. I now offer that spiritual&nbsp;guidance&nbsp;to those in need, and everyday teach others to breath, be aware, and I live more by example then by speaking. As I journey into Clergy, I'm&nbsp;awakened&nbsp;to so many different sides of myself and others. As I journey through Karuna Reiki, my empathy for the world is opened wide, and I want to give healing to all. I'm a Priestess of the Goddess, a daughter of Brigit and Lugh, the messenger of The Morrigan, the Healer through Kawn Yin, and a on this new path of mine, I look beside me at you, holding my hand out through the rushes, to hold yours, so that when you fall, it is easier to rise again.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/tattooedpaganmom/jlsa/~4/UvdOmDtrcuI" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Kieran Nightstarhttps://plus.google.com/103449388419200522111noreply@blogger.com2Marietta, GA 30008, USA33.8955185 -84.590336733.7900775 -84.74826519999999 34.0009595 -84.4324082http://www.tattooedpaganmom.com/2012/03/fork-paths-and-journeys.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6379591302180716489.post-52463544811123762602011-09-22T08:20:00.000-07:002012-03-04T19:51:53.954-08:002012-03-04T19:51:53.954-08:00Migraines<div><i>I wrote this up to send to some co workers and I&nbsp;decided&nbsp;to share it here and on the<a href="http://www.facebook.com/ASpiritualBlend"> A Spiritual Blend FB page</a>. I have a lot of friends who come to me for help with their migraines and I have helped them with this information. With the stressful times we are in, migraines have become&nbsp;rampant&nbsp;in society. Dr's do help, however, a lot of migraines can be stopped using only holistic methods. If you are suffering from consistent&nbsp;migraines&nbsp;and nothing I've posted has helped,<b> please seek medical attention&nbsp;because&nbsp;it can be a sign of something more.</b></i></div><div><i>For help or more advice, feel free to contact me - <a href="mailto:Kieran@aspiritualblend.com">Kieran@aspiritualblend.com</a> or <a href="mailto:TattooedPaganMom@gmail.com">TattooedPaganMom@gmail.com</a>&nbsp;</i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Migraines are caused by enlargement of the blood vessels that stretch around the nerves forcing the nerves to release a chemical that is to protect the brain from swelling, however, is only causing inflammation, pain, and further enlargement. What triggers the enlargement is shock and stress. Basically, your brain/nerves&nbsp;are hyper sensitive and loud noises, bright flashing light, or starring at moving patterns can trigger the migraine. To help aid migraines is to catch them before they happen.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Your brain and nerves&nbsp;need to be guided to relax.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Items to use/Things to do:</div><ol><li>Peppermint oil </li><li>Relaxing tea </li><li>Plenty of&nbsp;room temperature&nbsp;water </li><li>Work in intervals </li><li>Pick your sound</li></ol><div>&nbsp;</div><ol><li>Peppermint oil - You can get peppermint essential oil in any health food, whole foods, or herb shop. I believe I've even seen it in the organic sections at Kroger and Publix. You will use this 2 ways.</li></ol><ul><li>First, put a dab on each side of your temples. You can do this through out the day. I really recommend doing it when you wake up in the morning. Keep the bottle with you and at the first sign of a migraine, put the dabs on your temples. </li><li>Secondly, buy an oil burner, you can get those at Walmart, &nbsp;place 13 drops of peppermint oil in the&nbsp;in burner, and burn the oil at least 3 feet away from you. Allow the oil to burn while you are working, or through out the day. </li></ul><div align="center">(peppermint releases a natural serotonin which aids in nerve relaxation and even happiness, why do you think peppermint sticks are so popular during the "silly" season?)</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>&nbsp; 2. Relaxing teas - drink a mixture of chamomile, peppermint, spearmint, lavender, or other relaxing teas throughout the day. You can find good relaxing teas in the organic section of your grocery store. </div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>&nbsp; 3. Room temperature water through out the day (how many said yuck on that?) Here is why you want room temperature water. Your body is naturally 98.6 degrees. The average temperature of ice cold water is 55 degrees. When you ingest 55 degree water into a body that is 98.6 degrees you are shocking your nervous system. Just like the shock of jumping into a cold pool in a heat wave. Last thing you want to do is shock your nervous system that will trigger the migraine. Also, remember, the body is required, to stay hydrated, at least a gallon of water a day. When you wake up in the morning is when you are the most dehydrated. Drink at least an 8 oz glass of room temperature water right when you wake up. Continue that all day.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>&nbsp; 4. Work in intervals - work at the computer no more then 2 hours at a time, also, balance the light at your desk. Get a soft light lamp, put behind or beside&nbsp;your computer screen. Do not stay on the computer longer then 2 hours. After your time, step away from the computer, and go have a glass of water, tea, maybe put on your sun glasses and step out side. Even lay down for a bit. After an hour or so, go back to work for your next 2 hour interval. </div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>&nbsp; 5. Pick your sound - Do not have a chaos of sounds going. Sounds will trigger migraines faster then light. When you have a broad spectrum of sounds going at once, your brain is processing which sound is which. When you take away a lot of sounds at once, your brain can go into shock,&nbsp;causing&nbsp;the nerves to swell, triggering migraines. Keep sounds to a minimum, so that your brain isn't jumping from 10 sounds to 1.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Remember, holistic methods do not replace medical methods. Holistic methods are not a cure for symptoms it is a cure for the aliment. Holistic methods must be used consistently so allow holistic methods to become a part of your life routine for best results.</i></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/tattooedpaganmom/jlsa/~4/xWtOsn94pHo" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Kieran Nightstarhttps://plus.google.com/103449388419200522111noreply@blogger.com1http://www.tattooedpaganmom.com/2011/09/migraines.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6379591302180716489.post-61525583573371050882011-08-30T16:05:00.000-07:002012-03-04T19:51:53.955-08:002012-03-04T19:51:53.955-08:00Church of the Spiral Tree Pagan Prisoner Ministry (copy of orginal posting by Lady Charissa of North Georgia Solitaries)<br /><div id="ygrp-text"> Many of you may know that the Pagan Assistance Fund was asked late last year to help the CST Pagan Prisoner Ministry.&nbsp; <br /><br />The call came from the late Prison Chaplain Jonathan Medley.&nbsp; His request was to help him find a way to get their newsletter into the prisons.&nbsp; The cost was just too much to do for free with all the requests they have.&nbsp; We came up with a plan and have been asking the community to donate stamps, paper, envelopes, gift cards for office supplies, etc.&nbsp; Money is never turned down either.&nbsp; <br /><br />His other request was in trying to find a way to get books into the prison libraries for pagan inmates.&nbsp; Again, funding is an issue.&nbsp; We came up with a way to list regular books on swap sites and then order pagan books with the credits.&nbsp; So we've asked the community to donate all those books that you keep meaning to get rid off - textbooks, novels, whatever. <br /><br />Now, pagan prisoners have never been a part of the ministry that I've done.&nbsp;&nbsp; It wasn't that I didn't believe in doing that, it was just that I had never really had that cross my path in my ministries.&nbsp; So I worked with CST to help them in the capacity that Reverend Medley had requested.&nbsp; I was impressed with the commitment of the people at CST and decided to join their church as a member to show my support that way.&nbsp; I joined the yahoo group they have for the Pagan Prisoner Ministry to take a look around.&nbsp; I was amazed.&nbsp; They service prisoners from all over the country.&nbsp; There are currently over 100 prisoners in their database looking for pen pals and there seem to be more requests coming in each week.&nbsp; <br /><br />So here's what I'm looking to do.&nbsp; I'm going to spotlight one prisoner that is looking for a pen pal and bring him out into the rest of the pagan community and see if we can find someone to write to him.&nbsp;&nbsp; If you haven't written to a prisoner before, you can find information on what to write and how to maintain your privacy at <a href="http://spiraltree.org/" title="http://spiraltree.org/">http://spiraltree.org</a>&nbsp;.&nbsp; <br /><br />Here's the info on our prisoner in the spotlight:&nbsp; <br /><br />The spotlight is on Adam Joseph Anderson today.&nbsp; He is residing at Oshkosh Correctional Institute in Wisconsin.<br /><br />He writes:&nbsp; I am what would best be called a universalist, tribalist Heathen following the path that both Odin and Tyr lay before me. I am universalist in that I do not think anyone whom the gods and goddesses call should be denied. I am tribalist in that family, friends and community matter very deeply to me. My interests include fishing, outdoor activities, rock and classic music, reading and trades work. I am a 27-year-old Caucasian male of Scando-Germanic descent. I have made mistakes and accept them, looking toward the future, using each day to weave a better strand of Wyrd into my orlog, these being the Nordic equivalent to karma. I practice meditation and am open-minded to learning of other paths and of shaping my own. Upon release I will be returning to Milwaukee, WI and plan to become involved in the larger Pagan community there. I look forward to learning from those who would teach"<br /><br />If you aren't currently writing to a prisoner, think about writing to Adam.&nbsp; If you do decide to write to Adam, you can get the details on where to write to him by joining the CST Pagan Prisoner Ministry Yahoo Group. &nbsp; If you are interested in becoming a pen pal but want to look through the database and choose someone else, just join the Yahoo Group and take a look around.&nbsp; Just be sure and post when you choose someone so that we can mark him/her as having a pen pal.<br /><br /><a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cst_paganprisonerministry/" title="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cst_paganprisonerministry/">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cst_paganprisonerministry/</a><br /><br />In service,<br />Lady Charissa&nbsp;</div><!--~-|**|PrettyHtmlStart|**|-~--><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/tattooedpaganmom/jlsa/~4/d_LDsemEVUA" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Kieran Nightstarhttps://plus.google.com/103449388419200522111noreply@blogger.com0http://www.tattooedpaganmom.com/2011/08/church-of-spiral-tree-pagan-prisoner.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6379591302180716489.post-77932907503949572022011-08-23T10:55:00.000-07:002012-03-04T19:51:53.973-08:002012-03-04T19:51:53.973-08:00The losing of the Matriarch..I'm going to say what has been said before many times by many moms, "being a mom is hard work" The reason I'm repeating it is because I'm wiping away the old and allowing myself to see clearly.<br /><br />Ok, I'm speaking in code, let me be more clear<br /><br />I'm refocusing myself to put more into being a mom and wife because I've&nbsp;neglected&nbsp;my position in the home. I know, it sounds archaic, however, there is a point here that isn't as archaic as you think. As you all know, I took my kids out of school in&nbsp;February&nbsp;of 2011, and have been just letting them "detox" from the high pressure and rigid rules of public school. It's been good, and they have been happier, in a way, but, I've been having a hard time adjusting. Since I work from home, and have been for the past 5 years, I was used to having them at school and me being able to get a lot done. Since they have been out of school, well, it's been like summer vacation, a very long summer vacation, lol. Now, kids are going back to school, and here I am still on summer vacation hours.<br /><br />I kept pushing myself to work, work, work, and I was feeling pressure from my "paying" job, my personal job, our business, workshops, spiritual classes, and I knew I had to get all those taken care of, I just HAD to. We had to live, I wanted to build my healing practice, Roger and I both wanted the business to take off, and I have been working for my place of High Priestess in the Pagan community for almost 20 years. I just had to do everything on the list, I was so close to completing everything. Except I was neglecting something, and I knew it. I was&nbsp;neglecting&nbsp;my kids, my husband, my home, myself. &nbsp;I had allowed so much pressure in my life, I was no longer able to accomplish anything. I was behind on class work, I was not making the commission from my paying job like I used to, and was neglecting my employees, the business was just sitting there, and my workshops, well, I was getting those taken care of, but, I was always waiting till the last minute. I was on a downward spiral personally, and I didn't know how to stop it. The harder I worked, the faster I fell.&nbsp;Admitting the truth, I was feeling like a failure,&nbsp;embarrassed&nbsp;a lot for being slow or forgetting about things, and crying myself to sleep... a lot.<br /><br />I began to let things go, little by little. I stepped down from&nbsp;management, I backed away from forcing myself to study every night, and was allowing myself to study as I was able to. I backed down on some groups I was trying to become an active part of, the business website, I stripped, and am rebuilding it little by little, dropping the etsy store, but, I was still fading fast. I would wake up, take out the dogs, feed the dogs, grab my coffee and get on the computer.....and sit. I had NO attention to anything, I was a zombie. The paying job was still failing, my business still sitting there, my spiritual studies, still behind on, and my family, still without me. My plan wasn't as successful as I thought it would be, but, I soon learned why.<br /><br />A few days ago, I was looking in the frig for food and all the healthy stuff, fruits and veges had gone bad, but the crap had been eaten. I was watching the kids, and they were eating buttered toast for breakfast, and Kathleen was even skipping meals. Roger came home, and ate junk, and just sat and watched TV till he got tired, which was till around noon sometimes. that meant he would sleep till 7 or 8, get up, still tired, and not be worth anything. Even the dogs weren't doing well. Bella, for lack of exercise was gaining weight, and was lazy and cranky, and Banshee, the puppy, was trying to attack and chew EVERYTHING. My house was a mess, dust everywhere, laundry was way behind, and I felt a twinge in my heart.....the matriarch of the household, the balance, ME, had become to busy to love and care for her home. I had&nbsp;neglected&nbsp;my kids, my husband, my dogs, my house, my life I had been building for 15 years. I put everything else in front of what I cared for the most. I wasn't doing it on purpose, I wasn't being mean, or hateful, I was blind and busy, and I finally saw the damage it had done.<br /><br />I went onto the front porch and drank my coffee and thought about a lot of things. I reflected on the Goddess in Mother form. I thought of what a mother gives up in her life. I even thought about the labels on mothers, (mother, wife, doctor,&nbsp;beautician, teacher, singer, plumber....on and on) I thought about silly things like the jokes you hear about moms, "If mom's not happy, no one is" I also thought about my own mom. Growing up, my mother also&nbsp;neglected&nbsp;me after a certain age. I learned to cook, clean, and care for myself at an early age. When I was in 3rd grade, I was getting myself up, cooking my own breakfast, and making sure I went to the bus stop in time. I don't blame her, understand, I have no anger anymore at my mother, I was just realizing that just because I had to do it, doesn't mean my kids have to. I took them out of school for a reason, to have them home. I'm very protective of my kids, a good friend of mine lightly laughs about how protective I am. I always have my kids with me, and I thought that was enough. It wasn't, they needed ME. Roger did too, he needed his wife. I was always mad that Roger wasn't helping me, but, I wasn't doing anything he could help with. He can't help me with my studies, or my job, or my healing practice, those were my&nbsp;focus. Roger needed me, in his life, caring for him, so he could know how to care for me. I needed to be his wife, so he could be my husband, so we could be partners.<br /><br />I spent almost all day thinking about all of that, and what to do.I wasn't on the computer much that day, I was quiet, and after a lot of reflection, I figured it out. I needed to bring balance not to my life, but to my home and family. So, I sat, I spoke with the girls and Roger, and I made a choice. Yes, I needed to work, study, build the business, build my practice, teach, and continue to work for being a&nbsp;prominent&nbsp;figure in the Pagan community, but, I need to do all that second, I need to bring back and keep balance and love in my home.<br /><br />The next day was Sunday, so, I began that day cleaning, and&nbsp;reorganizing&nbsp;my home and family. I woke up, got the girls up, and I made breakfast and we all sat and had breakfast, and the only thing that was on was music. We walked the dogs after breakfast, and &nbsp;Roger took the TVs our of the girl's bedrooms, ( I was always against it, but, I had former friends who talked me into it and I was never comfortable with it) I cleaned, the girls cleaned, then I made lunch, and we all sat and had lunch, then we finished cleaning, and we were done by 1pm. I then said it's time to relax and Kighla and I sat and watched a little TV, Kathleen went in her room and worked on her book, then it was time to make dinner. Roger was up and came in to help me, willingly!! We all sat, had dinner, then took the dogs for another walk. Roger and I sat together, watched the ball game while the girl's did what they did, and we were laughing, joking and having fun. My home was clean and balanced and i didn't get on the computer once that day.<br /><br />Monday, ok, I do have to work, so, I made the choice, I make breakfast and lunch for the girls, eat with them, (Roger has breakfast with us) and I won't get on the computer till 1pm to work and i work till 4 or 5. Now, I don't think that is sitting well with my boss, but, I can make it work, and pull my commission I need for me and my family to live. After 5, I'm off again to cook, eat dinner, walk the dogs with the girls, spend time with Roger, and be a wife and mom. Because my family needs me...<br /><br /><br />There's a lot more changes I have to do in my home. So far, just taking the change of making breakfast, lunch and dinner, eating all 3 together as a family, walking the dogs, and spending time with them has changed the whole energy of the house. I get on the computer to work on things, and I do still have a lot to do. I need to even get the school year finished for the girls. I have&nbsp;organizations&nbsp;to join, studies to do, a website and business to build, workshops and classes to teach, and a job that fits into all of that. Yes, I have a lot, but everything I have, I want and love. I just need to always remember, balance starts in the home. Once you find balance there, everything else will find it's place.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/tattooedpaganmom/jlsa/~4/QooyPuF3Ccs" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Kieran Nightstarhttps://plus.google.com/103449388419200522111noreply@blogger.com2http://www.tattooedpaganmom.com/2011/08/losing-of-matriarch.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6379591302180716489.post-79896023702401018032011-08-12T12:27:00.000-07:002012-03-04T19:51:53.974-08:002012-03-04T19:51:53.974-08:00Something to think about....I was reading an article that made me think of a question; Is being dedicated to your spiritual beliefs getting in the way of basic human rights, or, are the desires for basic human rights stopping people from being fully dedicated to their spiritual beliefs?<br /><br />This world is full of different spiritual beliefs, Christianity,&nbsp;Judaism, Islamic, Hinduism,&nbsp;Paganism, on and on with the "isms", and not all of them have the same, for lack of better term, "rules" to follow. Now, let's scrap this down to the bare skinny of the&nbsp;situation. Every spiritual practice has a DOGMA to it, and sort of spiritually moral rule. They are not all the same by no means, however, those that fully dedicate&nbsp;themselves&nbsp;to that spiritual practice of choice have also dedicated themselves to that spiritual moral rule or rules. Now, here is where it gets tricky, when someone follows the "rules" of their spiritual practice, and it isn't something that is widely accepted, or even liked, or maybe it goes against the basics of&nbsp;humanity&nbsp;all together, why are they criticized?<br /><br />(I'm sure I'm gonna get yelled out for that question...where's that pesky pot, I got more stirring to do)<br /><br />In truth, IF the rule they followed from their spirituality was say, plant a flower each week in a bare spot on the grass, most of the world would be awww, yippie, how lovely. However, if that spiritual rule was, rip each flower from the ground on the sundown of the&nbsp;Sabbath, every one would be oh god, you jerk. However, both were following and dedicating themselves to their spiritual beliefs, who judges who is right and who is wrong?<br /><br />You?<br />Me?<br />Their Deity, and only their Deity, the one they follow, and are following that spiritual rule for?<br /><br />Yea, chew on that while I serve this to you...<br /><br />Most people need spiritual guidance in their lives. When that guidance leads us on a journey to make a choice that may shun you from most of humanity, what do you do?<br /><br />Easy, don't do it right?<br /><br />Ok, where's your dedication then? Are you only going to follow spiritual guidance when it's&nbsp;covenant&nbsp;for you? Maybe jump from one spiritual belief to another, hoping you are covering all bases and still making the world happy? Oh, yea, there is that moral thing too right. You're sitting there saying, "duh, morals, if you're a moral person you know better" Ok, who judges morals? Who gave you those morals? Your parents? Where did they get it? Their parents? Where did they get it? Mmmhmmm, yea, someone got those morals from some spiritual guidance somewhere...do the digging, you'll see.The Carib tribe in the West Indies practiced&nbsp;Cannibalism. They believed chewing their&nbsp;enemies&nbsp;and spitting them out was a spiritual way to take in their&nbsp;enemies&nbsp;strength. Was that morally wrong? It was a spiritual practice? A spiritual rule? Guidance from a spiritual leader. Yea, I know, it was wrong, that's why it's illegal now, blah blah...moving on.<br /><br />Ok, here is my point....<br /><br />When you follow a&nbsp;spiritual&nbsp;path you're dedicating yourself to that path. Not everything, everyone is going to do in the rules of their spirituality is going to make everyone happy. Not everyone's spiritual practice is going to make everyone happy. However, religious&nbsp;tolerance&nbsp;is something maybe we need to look at in all angles. Take the religion out of politics, it doesn't work. But, don't shun a government&nbsp;official&nbsp;because they choose to pray before a political vote. Or, shun a clerk for making a choice to follow her own teachings personally, and not sign same sex marriage&nbsp;license. She, in turn, asked for the ability to higher someone to sign them in her place.&nbsp;I,&nbsp;personally, think the clerk refusing to sign the marriage&nbsp;license&nbsp;was rude, however, I admire her convictions and I admire her asking to bring on someone in her place that will sign them.<br /><br />Freedom of religion means ALL religion....and that also means you take the parts of religions you DON'T like and&nbsp;tolerate&nbsp;it.<br /><br />Now, let's all grab a Coke and sing "Hands Across America"<br />(song f*cked ya didn't I)<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/tattooedpaganmom/jlsa/~4/W_Mwgp-6t1A" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Kieran Nightstarhttps://plus.google.com/103449388419200522111noreply@blogger.com0http://www.tattooedpaganmom.com/2011/08/something-to-think-about.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6379591302180716489.post-48286507607121969402011-08-01T07:43:00.000-07:002012-03-04T19:51:53.951-08:002012-03-04T19:51:53.951-08:00Just smile about it...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YpWQXWQDX2k/Tja7Vc0Wp7I/AAAAAAAAAJI/MuHOFPVF9jE/s1600/From+camera+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YpWQXWQDX2k/Tja7Vc0Wp7I/AAAAAAAAAJI/MuHOFPVF9jE/s400/From+camera+002.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I just love this picture.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Happy kids, happy dogs, happy fireplace...just smile!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thought I would share.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Have a wonderful week everyone and remember, just smile!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/tattooedpaganmom/jlsa/~4/WR1XBgkNndo" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Kieran Nightstarhttps://plus.google.com/103449388419200522111noreply@blogger.com0http://www.tattooedpaganmom.com/2011/08/just-smile-about-it.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6379591302180716489.post-34976790896695912872011-07-27T06:19:00.000-07:002012-03-04T19:51:53.941-08:002012-03-04T19:51:53.941-08:00Honeyfern Farms....Last week, me, my hubby and my girls went to meet Suzannah at Honeyfern Farms. Honeyfern is an up and coming&nbsp;secular&nbsp;private school, small class, and has a lot of&nbsp;accreditation in classes offered. I was&nbsp;interested&nbsp;in learning my options for the girls since I haven't actually started homeschooling yet and honestly, am still not sure exactly how to go about it.<br /><br />I must say, I was impressed.<br /><br />Suzannah was super nice as was her husband. The place is beautiful with a horse, goats, and chickens. When we pulled up we park in front of her adorable little garden and enjoyed the view for a moment. already, just the impression was a nice impression. The energies of the home were so great, and Suzannah was very welcoming. We went in, sat and talked for a while. She explained to my husband what Honeyfern was all about, and her goals, and honestly, everything she was saying is what we were looking for. She was super nice to the girls, and looking in her&nbsp;library, I admit, I was jealous, I wanted some of those books lol.<br /><br />I was open to her that I was new to homeschooling and she even offered some advice on what I should do, all the way down to making sure I have all the documents from my girl's public schools. I had no idea there was a lot more to get. She also, when I spoke with her on the phone, gave me more advice on how to homeschool them. I respect someone who is working to build her private school giving advice to a stranger on how to homeschool. He goal wasn't to sell the school, you could tell her goal was to just be a kind and helpful person.<br /><br />She is working to build her private school, but she also offers online classes, which may be more in our budget at the moment, but, I do know my goal now is to register the girls into Honeyfern. I highly&nbsp;recommend&nbsp;Honeyfern if you are looking for a&nbsp;private&nbsp;school for your kids to attend. Roger and I are still weighing our options on what to do, but, Honeyfern is right up there towards the top!<br /><br />I put her link on my blog side bar, but, here is also her link to the school,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.honeyfern.org/">http://www.honeyfern.org/</a>&nbsp;She is located in W Marietta, and again, just from meeting her the one time, I think she may have the passion I'm looking for to teach my girls.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/tattooedpaganmom/jlsa/~4/sdmOefxwd0o" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Kieran Nightstarhttps://plus.google.com/103449388419200522111noreply@blogger.com02257 Smith Ave SW, Marietta, GA 30064, USA33.891796 -84.62685299999998-1.1370364999999936 -144.39247799999998 68.92062849999999 -24.861227999999983http://www.tattooedpaganmom.com/2011/07/honeyfern-farms.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6379591302180716489.post-9760260917458079832011-05-10T04:09:00.000-07:002012-03-04T19:51:53.980-08:002012-03-04T19:51:53.980-08:00The Breaking Down of Racial BarriersThe other day, I was sitting outside with my husband and we were watching some kids playing in the neighborhood. They were 3 boys, oldest probably about 13, skate boarding down the street. They were doing pretty decent, no one fell and broke their butts. As we were watching them streak by on their boards, I couldn't help but notice a change in things, the boys, 2 were Hispanic, one was black. <br /><br />Now, allow me to explain this before you go saying..."well what the hell does that have to do with anything?"<br /><br />The reason I point this out is when I was young, skaters where white. Just some low class white kids with nothing to do but see how far they could push it before they broke a bone, or worse. In fact, not only were they white, but, if a black kid tried to skateboard, they were considered a "poser" So much has changed. I see the teenagers walking from the other neighborhood down the street, and they are all colors, hanging out together, laughing together, dating each other. To me it's like looking at the colors of the world finally deciding to come together and make a rainbow. I go to the grocery store, and see so many parents, grand parents, with children who are mixed. I see on TV, commercials depicting inter racial couples, even homosexual couples. To me, this is beautiful, amazing, and such a wonderful breath of fresh air.<br /><br />Not saying the problems of race are gone, by no means. I am saying that it has come a long way...a LONG way in a short amount of time. I remember the "Rodney King" incident, how the racial tensions really hit a pentacle then. People were fighting for nothing but the color of their skin. In my school, I remember clearly a time when I was sitting outside at lunch, and a Vietnamese kid came running out of the school, scared to death, and not far behind, a group of black kids were chasing him. I remember thinking then how ridicules it was. When I began high school, a good friend (she was white) and myself were escorted into the school by the older brother of a friend (he was black) so that people could see WE weren't to be messed with. A very good depiction of the racial tensions when I was in school is in the movie, "Freedom Writers" I highly recommend that movie. <br /><br />Now though, I watch people, and all though there is still racism, in the younger generation, it's like a joke. They joke about it. No one is kicked aside because of their race. No one is left out because of their sexual orientation. In fact, the younger generation look at the older generation like they are idiots. I can hear them now, "Uh, hello, what makes YOU better then someone else?" The younger generation does not see color, gender, sexuality, they see friends.<br /><br />&nbsp;As we still have a long way to go, I think we are running FULL speed to the path of equality. No longer taking baby steps, we are hopping, skipping, and jumping to it and for most of the younger generations, it's "uncool" to be raciest....DUH!!<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/tattooedpaganmom/jlsa/~4/4SbsacNriqQ" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Kieran Nightstarhttps://plus.google.com/103449388419200522111noreply@blogger.com0http://www.tattooedpaganmom.com/2011/05/breaking-down-of-racial-barriers.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6379591302180716489.post-34457790992931127932011-05-02T07:45:00.000-07:002012-03-04T19:51:53.939-08:002012-03-04T19:51:53.939-08:00Celebration of Death...I have a feeling this post is not going to bring me to popular status or will gather me many new friends However, this is tearing at my heart and it's bothering me and I need to put something out there so the world, or at least those in my world can see and read it.<br /><br />&nbsp;I can't seam to celebrate the death of a human. I know, before I go one, I know Osama Bin Laden was not a good human, I was there, I remember. I know he master mind the murder of 3000 people and was boasting about it. I'm not anti American, I'm not pro terrorism, I'm just someone who looks at the fact that a human life was lost. I can't help but feel sad here. Seeing people last night, celebrating while someone out there is mourning their father, their son, their brother, their husband. Reading FB postings singing praises to his death and demise. Hearing people wanting to see his body, wanting to "piss" on his body, my gods, this is scary the amount of celebration of revenge.<br /><br />&nbsp;I can't say what I would do if I was the one who was face to face with the man. I don't know. I'm human, humans are guided by emotions. We use the term "justice" as a cover for what it really is, "revenge" I'm no better, I'm not. When 9/11 happened, I wanted the people who did this to feel the same pain we as Americans were feeling. If my family was attacked, I too would seek revenge, I'm not preaching. I'm just sitting here today thinking, yes, he is dead, but something is not right in celebrating this fact. <br /><br /><br />I could go much further, but I won't, this is probably the shortest post I'm put here. I know the world is one less tyrant today, but, I can't help but feel sadness. Pride in my country, pride in the men who got him, pride in our President for keeping this so organized and secret, but a sadness.....a man's life has been taken from him, by our hands. <br /><br />This is what "justice" has come to....<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/tattooedpaganmom/jlsa/~4/lCp03JelQsA" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Kieran Nightstarhttps://plus.google.com/103449388419200522111noreply@blogger.com4http://www.tattooedpaganmom.com/2011/05/celebration-of-death.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6379591302180716489.post-64219991606254030672011-04-26T09:09:00.000-07:002012-03-04T19:51:53.964-08:002012-03-04T19:51:53.964-08:00My Opinion on the Disrespect of the Statue of JesusIn case you haven't watched the news lately, or you don't watch it at all, on Easter Sunday members of<a href="http://www.stpeterchanel.org/"> St. Peter Chanel Catholic Church in Roswell, GA</a> were greeted by a statue of Jesus that was defiled by hot pink spray paint. I'm disgusted by this and also embarrassed, not only because someone or someones would treat a religious symbol so terribly, but, my personal sacred symbol, the Pentacle was spray painted on the chest of the statue. <br /><br />1 step forward 20 steps backwards<br /><br />&nbsp;For those of you who don't know, the Pentacle is a sacred symbol of Goddess followers. the 5 points of the star represent the 4 elements, Earth, Air, Fire, and Water, and the top point represents Spirit. the circle around the star represents the unbreakable circle of life. This symbol is not an evil symbol, on the contrary it is a very positive symbol of life encompassing&nbsp; all. <br />I would like to point out that the inverted Pentacle, the Pentagram, isn't an evil sign either. What the Pentagram represents is the Horned God, the two points are his horns, and the rest represent the face of Baphomet, the God of freemasonry or transformation. Why this symbol is used in Earth based beliefs is to represent the ever changing Earth, the animals, the birds, the life and death of all. <br /><br />Back to the subject at hand, I've been following this story, and of course, the Pentacle painted on the chest of the statue was labeled "satanic" which, yes, annoyed me, but was not the subject of my disgust. The reason I was so disgusted was due to the fact that people can have so much disrespect. These people look at the statue of Jesus as I and many other Pagans look at the Pentacle and Pentagram, a totem of belief, of spirituality, and of life. To add salt to the wound, the Pentacle was used in this defilement, a shame, an embarrassment, and even an outrage! Why? Why would they do that? It does nothing to generate equality among Christians and Pagans. It only put Pagans back into the place of being labeled "satanic, anti spiritual, devil worshipers, evil"<br /><br />&nbsp;My goal and goals of others that I work closely with, is to bring Paganism out of the shadows, out into the world, and make it comfortable and acceptable to wear your Pentacles in the open. For our children not to have to hide their beliefs. For people to not have to lie to their bosses when they need a Sabbat off for ritual. I work hard, living my life open everyday, and I still have a deep seeded fear that someone will attack my children, burn a cross in my yard, or worse. These are not an over exaggeration of fears, these are real fears. I have lost jobs due to my beliefs, I have lost friends due to my beliefs, I have lost good reputation due to my beliefs, but, I refuse to be angry over it. I work to live my life openly and peaceful, and lead by example. My children do not know to hide their beliefs, I've told them not to. I've been blessed with an open minded family, and a wonderful Mother in Law who loves me no matter what I believe and that does help, a lot. I'm very lucky to have that because a lot of Pagans don't have that.<br /><br />Now, my over all point here is this...<br /><br />On behalf of the Pagans, Witches, Wiccans, and others who feel embarrassed about the Pentacle being used in such a negative manner, I apologize&nbsp; To those who did this, shame on you. Shame on you if you don't know about the symbol you used and shame on you if you did. Shame on you for being so disrespectful to a highly regarded religious symbol. Shame on you for pushing the Pagan community 20 steps backwards in the fight to be accepted. <br /><br />Remember, live your life peacefully, openly. Do not bring hatred to you by feeling you need to forcefully put your beliefs known to others. Do not be negative, do not hold on to anger, learn from the past. Using a hammer to break a wall eventually will work, but you will have a large mess, injuries, sore shoulders and hands, instead, knock on the door, and be heard, someone is always listening.<br /><br />View the story here - <a href="http://www.11alive.com/news/article/188756/40/Volunteers-clean-church-statue-of-Easter-vandalism">http://www.11alive.com/news/article/188756/40/Volunteers-clean-church-statue-of-Easter-vandalism</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/tattooedpaganmom/jlsa/~4/Gw_svK-jfkc" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Kieran Nightstarhttps://plus.google.com/103449388419200522111noreply@blogger.com4http://www.tattooedpaganmom.com/2011/04/my-opinion-on-disrespect-of-statue-of.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6379591302180716489.post-82223712066007705502011-04-04T05:55:00.000-07:002012-03-04T19:51:53.976-08:002012-03-04T19:51:53.976-08:00Eat, Pray, Love....I wanted to see that movie for the longest time. I saw it first advertised on FB and started getting all giggly and silly about it, showing it to Roger, friends, and just plan sitting in stitches. Well, since we don't do the movies that often, waiting for it to get off demand and on the cable channels has been annoying as hell. Not to mention I ordered the book from PBS and the person never sent it...grrr...so, there I was..waiting.<br /><br /><br />Finally, yesterday, I wake up and sit in the chair waiting for my coffee, having my normal hip pain recovery, and what is on Starz...<i>Eat,Pray,Love</i>!!! Yay!! Only missed 4 minutes, so I didn't move for 2 hours while I finally watched the movie I've been dying to watch.<br /><br />Now, <i>Eat, Pray, Love</i> got the same negative reviews as other wonderful movies like, <i>The Fountain</i>, <i>City of Joy</i>, and <i>What Dreams May Come</i>, but, just like those movies it was extremely wonderful.&nbsp; I'm not a huge Julia Roberts fan, all though, I watch most of her movies, but she was so genuine in this movie. The moral of the movie it's self was just outstanding. I know why American critics didn't like it, it was a positive movie, that makes Americans look at themselves and they way we go, go, go and never stop for one moment to breath. We feel we have to EARN our quite time, not just take it. We are so programed to work, pay bills, work, pay bills, that we don't enjoy the, '<b><span class="yshortcuts cs4-visible" id="lw_1301920110_0">Dolce</span> far niente</b>" "pleasure of doing nothing". Such a sweet line of personal enjoyment.<br /><br />&nbsp;We, as Americans, focus to much on "earning" everything, EVERYTHING!! In fact, I even tell my children the same thing because it's so programmed into our souls. I tell my girls, "Work first, pleasure later" mmmmm, maybe I should rethink that? Right now, with de schooling, it's a lot of doing nothing, and since I personally stepped down from management, I'm almost doing nothing, but still busy lol. I've begun however to relax much more since stepping down, and to focus on my personal spiritual journey as well. I'm more aware of my children and their growth, however, I'm not earning near the money I'm used to earning lol, guess that's the problem with America, to live you need money, to make money, you need to work, to make the money you need to live here in America, you need to work...A LOT!!<br /><br />&nbsp;Such movies as<i> Eat, Pray, Love</i>, <i>The City of Joy</i>, <i>The Fountain</i>, and <i>What Dreams May Come</i>, really make you think...about yourself, your family, your surroundings. I've begun to sit in front of the TV, flipping channels hoping to find a movie like that, often time to great disapointment. Now, I'm still a horror flick fanatic, but, most of my time now is spent only desiring positive re enforcement of life with in my own personal realm. That's why most of the time now, I'm making bread, making butter, cooking dinner, listening to ambient music, meditating, or working to bring my services out more to the Pagan community. I've begun to stop, do nothing, relax, and take in my surroundings. My stresses are not as big as they used to be. When the girl's were in school, and I was managing, I was always trying to achieve something more then where I was. Making the girl's study for tests, homework, CRCTs, making myself set work goals and working consistently to meet them. I never enjoyed cooking for my family then because I was to mentally drained to see the pleasure in it. I never made bread, or worked to learn any organic recipes, because I never had the time to do such pleasures, and, at that time, they weren't pleasures, they were something else I had to work on. Also, funny enough, this is the first time in a LONG time, I'm not worried about money. That's a strange feeling I'm still getting used to.<br /><br />Remember, you must work to pay bills, but you must breath to survive. Don't let the stresses of making enough money stop you. Look around you, do you REALLY need to order out, do you really NEED that new car, do you really NEED to go to the expensive mall and buy your clothes? I have more ingredients in my cupboards now then pre made food, I have a car that, yes, we are trading in soon, but, for another used car. I have have a job, I still enjoy, but I don't work near as hard on, and am able to enjoy much more, and I'm not as burned out as I was. Also, I'm able to offer myself to my community which I dearly love as I love my family.<br /><br />Take time today for the docle far niente, you will be amazed the difference...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/tattooedpaganmom/jlsa/~4/NqoOvntwo00" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Kieran Nightstarhttps://plus.google.com/103449388419200522111noreply@blogger.com1http://www.tattooedpaganmom.com/2011/04/eat-pray-love.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6379591302180716489.post-84363105163230752982011-04-02T03:37:00.000-07:002012-03-04T19:51:53.978-08:002012-03-04T19:51:53.978-08:00The Education of Little Tree....My two saplings are a trip. They both are, shall we say, colorful. I love them both dearly and the older they get more excited I am to see them grow into women. I have ups and downs with them like every mom. sometimes I want to just sit and watch their every move and sometimes I want to do sell them away to the gypsys. Of course, knowing my children, they would love that.<br /><br />Most of the people my age have children under the age of 5, so, it's not to easy to find people I relate to with children my girl's age. When we go out to festivals and all, most of the children are young, and my girl's end up having to play with them, or just sitting bored with the adults. Now, honestly, I don't think my kids mind that much, all though Kathleen is starting to act like her time is the most precious in the universe *rolls eyes* but I wonder am I, through no fault of my own, hindering their growth?<br /><br />I'm part of a Google homeschooling group for tweens, that's great for Kighla, but, what about Kathleen?&nbsp; The other homeschooling groups are for young children. Do people not home/un school teens? I admit, there aren't many kids I personally like. I'm not a big kid person. I do have a couple I love dearly, they are just gems, and a few others that are just adorable, but, for the most part, little kids look adorable...with mom and dad. I am going to remedy this in some ways, I'm going to be heading up the NGS Teens group, so, I think that will help a lot. There is a homeschooling drum circle that goes on, but, most children are young that go there. Spiral Scouts...forget it, I've been to a lot, and the oldest was 8 years old. It's like when a child of an alternative lifestyle hits a certain age, they vanish.<br /><br />&nbsp;So, my concern is not only the curriculum I need to figure out by September, (that's my personal goal) but also, not having them in school any more is stunting their growth a bit because they no longer have "peers"<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/tattooedpaganmom/jlsa/~4/DJ-ziEoxw04" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Kieran Nightstarhttps://plus.google.com/103449388419200522111noreply@blogger.com0http://www.tattooedpaganmom.com/2011/04/education-of-little-tree.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6379591302180716489.post-71648065586099710012011-03-22T08:51:00.000-07:002012-03-04T19:51:53.968-08:002012-03-04T19:51:53.968-08:00ForgivnessRecently I've have not only worked with someone on forgiveness, but my advice was put to the test. Being a Pagan counselor not only do you help others work on their issues, but you find a lot of times that the advice you give usually gets tested not long after you've given that advice.<br /><br />Funny how that works huh?<br /><br />Why should we forgive? I hear that question asked more then you would think. There are many reason why we should forgive, but, my question is, why SHOULDN'T we forgive? Not forgiving allows you to hold on to what hurt you, it gives you that permission to hold in that anger or pain. People can get stingy with their emotions, they hold them in, let them sit, fester, and sooner or later, it becomes a part of them. It's easy to hold on to something, you just grab it, and not let go. You can even get caught in the monkey trap with things you hold on to. Forgiveness, TRUE forgiveness allows you to let go, and letting go can be very scary. Think about it, you have held on to something for so long, it's become a part of you, you know that feeling, that emotion. You've adjusted yourself accordingly to how you would react when put in a smiler position, even rehearsed what you would do when confronting the person that hurt you. You've done a lot of work accepting that pain, rejection, hurt, or emotional scare, and that's a lot of time put into it, and you are now comfortable with it all. When you forgive though, all that work you've put into your pain goes to waste. True forgiveness not only makes your work of accepting your pain null and void, it takes that whole emotion away, leaving almost an empty spot inside you. <br /><br />Forgiveness also has no boundaries all though, some forgiveness is much harder to give then others. It is much easier to forgive someone who talked about you behind your back then to forgive the murder of your family. could you give forgiveness to someone who took your family away from you? I personally can not answer yes or no on that. To even think of it hurts so deeply it takes my breath away. Would I hold in that anger so deeply and tightly it bring me to vengeance? I don't know the answer to that as I'm sure you probably don't know the answer to that for yourself. The fact of the matter is, NOT giving the forgiveness, no matter what the reason, works the same way for everything.<br /><br />As I was brought to face my demons, and was asked for the forgiveness, I struggled with ever possiable reason of why I should, and why I shouldn't. I got a lot of reasoning on why I shouldn't give what was asked for...I was hurt, I was betrayed, it's been so long why now, my life was emotionally scared, my good name ruined, is this person really meaning what they say, how do I know or how can I trust them....so many many reasons why I shouldn't.<br /><br />Only 1 reason came to mind that I should.....because it's the right thing to do<br /><br /><br />I strive to be a good person, to be an open and spiritual person. No, I'm not blind to the world, on the contrary, I know a lot more about the evils of the world then I can to admit. I know the cruelty of humans, how they can ask for forgiveness, then turn around and do it again, just for giggles sometimes. I was asked for my forgiveness, a gift to give the person, a person who had deeply hurt me so many years ago. They asked for my special and original gift. I gave it, freely, openly, and with my whole heart and soul. Does that make me the better person, I don't think so. Does that make me someone who is opening them selves up to more pain? I said I gave forgiveness, I didn't say I completely forgot the reason for the forgiveness. I will say however, once I decided to give my special gift of forgiveness, I felt a difference in my personal core. I felt empty at first, a little firghtened, rather lost on where to go, and then, I understood that I have not only freed that peson of their guilt, but I have freed myself of that burdening pain.<br /><br />I released myself from my monkey trap<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/tattooedpaganmom/jlsa/~4/hmXTOF-IDac" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Kieran Nightstarhttps://plus.google.com/103449388419200522111noreply@blogger.com2http://www.tattooedpaganmom.com/2011/03/forgivness.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6379591302180716489.post-22110261069604481232011-03-16T07:18:00.000-07:002012-03-04T19:51:53.934-08:002012-03-04T19:51:53.934-08:00Good Friend Looking to Open her Home for Drop In Child Care<i><u><b>&nbsp;I highly recommend her to anyone,</b></u></i><br /><i><u><b>Tattooed Pagan Mom</b></u></i><br /><br /><br /><blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-SgP3Lx034A8/TYDGZjerCZI/AAAAAAAAABU/edhrGPOWF8M/s1600/190762_1920682418180_1275638253_2318922_2123535_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-SgP3Lx034A8/TYDGZjerCZI/AAAAAAAAABU/edhrGPOWF8M/s1600/190762_1920682418180_1275638253_2318922_2123535_n.jpg" /></a></div>As a part-time working mother, I know how hard it is to find quality drop in child care. Do you work part-time and day care centers only want full time children? Are you a stay at home mom who could use reliable responsible care for a couple of hours while you run errands? Have a doctors appointment and don’t want to have your healthy child sit in a waiting room with sick people? Just plain need a break??? <br /><br />I'm Wind and I'm the solution! I’m a work mostly from home mom of a little boy who is under one year old. I have a multitude of experience with children being a former teacher and babysitter of many years. I am currently CPR certified and am available all day Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and half days on Fridays. Whether you need an hour to get something done or a whole day of child care, you need a responsible older adult who can provide a loving fun environment to care for your precious treasure. <br /><br />Zen kids are happy kids, Zen kids have no worries!<br /><br />~♥~ Please call 678-687-0436 to schedule ~♥~&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</blockquote><br /><br /><blockquote>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </blockquote><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/tattooedpaganmom/jlsa/~4/qA2hqFn_dFs" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Kieran Nightstarhttps://plus.google.com/103449388419200522111noreply@blogger.com0http://www.tattooedpaganmom.com/2011/03/good-friend-looking-to-open-her-home.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6379591302180716489.post-38266136733781153022011-03-15T07:45:00.000-07:002012-03-04T19:51:53.943-08:002012-03-04T19:51:53.943-08:00Last Week to register for the Ostara Incense Workshop!!<div>Hey there everyone!</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>This is the last week you have to register for the Ostara incense workshop hosted at Forever and a Day. If you've always wondered how to make incense, and wondered more about how to make CONE incense, this is the class for you. I will be teaching about the beautiful Spring Equinox known as Ostara, then we will all be working together to mold our own cone incense&nbsp;with my own&nbsp;personal recipe using rose water&nbsp;that yields&nbsp; 20+ cones.&nbsp;</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>The workshop will be held this Saturday, March 19th from 1pm till 3pm EST. You can call Forever and a Day, <a href="http://foreverandaday.biz/" title="http://foreverandaday.biz/">http://foreverandaday.biz/</a>&nbsp;, &nbsp;to register. <strong>Remember,&nbsp;if you pre register, you save $5!</strong> </div><div><u><em>**20% of workshop proceeds go to benefit the Pagan Assistance Fund**</em></u></div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Also, if you plan on going to the NGS Ostara celebration, I do too, and we will have time to do both!! You do <strong>NOT</strong> need your mortar and pestle in this class, and non latex gloves will be provided.I will also provide the powder incense and the rose water along with all other tools you will need. Just bring yourself and your friends.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Visit the workshops link on A Spiritual Blend, <a href="http://www.aspiritualblend.com/incense-workshops.html" title="http://www.aspiritualblend.com/incense-workshops.html">http://www.aspiritualblend.com/incense-workshops.html</a>&nbsp;to learn more!</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Also, don't forget, we will also be at The Atlanta Pagan Market Place at Sweet Water Creek on March 26, from 11am till 6pm. Stop by, say hey, sniff around at the lovely incense and try on all the beautiful chain mail jewelry!</div><div><a href="http://paganmarketplace.org/" title="http://paganmarketplace.org/">http://paganmarketplace.org/</a></div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Hope to see everyone soon!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wp8j_2VGaZY/TX97cpNdZXI/AAAAAAAAABM/Dk0a_ElZDkU/s1600/asb+logo+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wp8j_2VGaZY/TX97cpNdZXI/AAAAAAAAABM/Dk0a_ElZDkU/s320/asb+logo+small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div>&nbsp;</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/tattooedpaganmom/jlsa/~4/W-hEToA-tlY" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Kieran Nightstarhttps://plus.google.com/103449388419200522111noreply@blogger.com0http://www.tattooedpaganmom.com/2011/03/last-week-to-register-for-ostara.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6379591302180716489.post-48995718171611456602011-03-12T07:10:00.000-08:002012-03-04T19:51:53.952-08:002012-03-04T19:51:53.952-08:00Signs, Signs, Everythwere the Signs...Great song, wonderful cover, but, the signs are everywhere in life, not just the ones they talk about in song "Signs" by The Five Man Electrical Band (<a href="http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/tesla-signs-unplugged/e0e7460456082dbb78b9e0e7460456082dbb78b9-543357010685?q=tesla+signs+youtube&amp;FORM=VIRE1">covered by Tesla</a>) but also signs on where you should take your next step in life. Those signs can be much harder to read, and even something you try not to read. My mom would always say, "God has a plan" and that's hard to swallow when you feel you make your own fate. As I grew though, I understand that yes, there is a plan out there, the thing is though, will you follow that plan? Now THAT'S the $25, 000 question folks.<br /><br />When you've been given signs in your life to go a certain direction, sometimes it can be extremely scary to follow those signs and take that step. In fact, it can be down right petrifying. Seriously, if life is going so good one way, and you're always getting that little inkling that maybe you should have done something else with your life, why would you want to change things if they are going so well? All though, if you followed your heart, and did what you felt you should be doing, you know you would be SO much happier.....maybe. Yea, when you analyze your choice, the choice gets harder, when the choice gets harder, you don't want to make it, then you are back to ignoring the signs again.<br /><br />Now, what if the signs are right there slapping you in the face, SMACK! What if you are given the sign to do something completely drastic that can change not only your life, but the life of your family and even possibly your friends. What if it's a sign that says, "Hey, look, you're not doing to friggen hot there, but, take the chance, go over here, walk this path. Yea, there are weeds, and it looks hard, but, I promise, it clears up the further down you follow it." The path you're on already is clear, it is easy to walk, might be up hill the whole way, but, no roots or twigs to clear out of the path, but up hill...a long way. What do you do? Do you take the chance? Do you jump from one path to the other, not really knowing where the other leads you, just trusting that damn inkling? What if people that are hanging out with you on that up hill path get hurt when you jump to the other and leave them behind? Man, WTH, it shouldn't be that hard to choose which way to go in life....should it?<br /><br />Yes, it should be. Life is a wonderful, hard gift that we are given. You can walk the easy road, or you can take the road less traveled, twigs, roots, and all. You can open yourself up to look for all the signs you are given in life, and follow them step by step, but, no one in their right mind EVER said it would be easy, it's not. It never will be. If it were easy, then how could you respect the rewards you are given in the end? If it were easy, then everyone would be on that perfect path in their life, and not having any life lessons to guide them, and we would all walk around "Blissed" ("V" reference here) and not caring if that pill we take kills us or not. <br /><br />A lot of things stop a person from following the signs, and,&nbsp; taking the road less traveled, being screwed over before is a BIG one. It's my excuse too. You've taken chances before, and you got screwed, out of money, out of security, out of a good reputation, even out of love. You lost things when you took that last chance, and loosing something else isn't something that is high on your "To Do' list. Who can blame you, I know I can't. When you're been hurt, and maybe even still raw, why put yourself in that situation where it could happen again. You're right, so, moosey on into your safe little cabin in the woods, and hide. That way you can be safe and secure and no one will come into your life offering you companionship on your journey, or support on any new endeavors. You can be alone, holding on to what you have with a grip of monkey, but never getting your hand out of that hole. <br /><br />Following the signs in your life is not easy, it's down right scary as hell. Especially when you have no EARTHLY CLUE what you're going to do if you take that risk, jump off that well traveled path, on to the ones with the twigs and rocks, and it fails. You stumble, you fall, you break a leg, and you can't jump back to the other path and continue on like you were. I like making my own fate, always have, and a lot of times, I've screwed up MAJORLY doing that. Not because I didn't follow the signs, but because when I did follow the signs, I just went where it pointed, I didn't read the signs under it; <br />Tread carefully<br />Don't feed the bears<br />Warning, bridge may ice in winter<br />I just ran through, not knowing what I needed to look out for so I could avoid the dangers that are on this new path. The well traveled path, you know the dangers, other people have traveled it before, but, when you follow the signs to the path you are to take, well, then, you need to have a keen eye, because part of making a new path in your life, is clearing out the rummage<br /><br />Good Luck<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/tattooedpaganmom/jlsa/~4/WWJ4YX1kdYU" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Kieran Nightstarhttps://plus.google.com/103449388419200522111noreply@blogger.com0http://www.tattooedpaganmom.com/2011/03/signs-signs-everythwere-signs.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6379591302180716489.post-39747029341640330072011-03-06T18:04:00.000-08:002012-03-04T19:51:53.946-08:002012-03-04T19:51:53.946-08:00World's Greatest Smoothie<div style="text-align: center;">This morning I made the best smoothie ever...EVER!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Cup alomond milk</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 banana sliced</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 peach&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">cinnamon</div><div style="text-align: center;">cap full of pure vanilla</div><div style="text-align: center;">scoop of Whey protein powder</div><div style="text-align: center;">Mix, and enjoy!!!&nbsp; </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/tattooedpaganmom/jlsa/~4/qZhEttwXvHA" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Kieran Nightstarhttps://plus.google.com/103449388419200522111noreply@blogger.com0http://www.tattooedpaganmom.com/2011/03/world-greatest-smoothie.html